Construction begins this month on new condominium Symphony Honolulu

By Tiffany Hill

Published: 2013.11.21 12:06 PM

Renderings: Courtesy Symphony Honolulu

The food trucks have cleared out, the construction fence has been erected and yesterday, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and developers broke ground at 888 Kapiolani Boulevard, the soon-to-be home of Symphony Honolulu, a 388-unit, mixed-use condominium.

The condo sits on 3.35 acres of land owned by JN Group Inc. In the 1990s, Honolulu developer Jack Myers owned the lot and first planned to build a luxury condo named Symphony Park—it’s right across the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, long-time home of the former Honolulu Symphony and now the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra. He scrapped that plan and later floated the Symphony Park retirement community on the same lot. Neither project materialized, but the symphony name stuck. Two decades later, it looks as though Myers’ original idea is finally taking shape.

San Diego-based firm OliverMcMillan is developing the tower. Its last project in town was the Pacifica Honolulu tower in 2010.

The 400-foot high rise features floor-to-ceiling windows boasting views of the Pacific, Diamond Head and downtown Honolulu. Each unit averages 1,100 square feet. When it comes to amenities, this is indeed a luxury condominium. There are plans for a multimedia center, theater, music room, yoga room and guest suites (so your out-of-town family and friends don’t have to stay with you). The outside terrace includes barbeque areas, private cabanas and an infinity pool.

Since the JN Group owns the property, the lower floors will be home to an exotic car showroom (in case you’re in the market for an Audi, Ferrari, Bentley, Maserati Lamborghini or Lotus).

In keeping tune with Kakaako’s other developments, 100 of the 338 units are reserved-housing units for those who meet the income requirements established by the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA).

Construction starts this month; Symphony Honolulu is scheduled to open by spring 2016. Nearly 70 percent of the available units sold within first two days of sales.

Money Talk: one-bedroom units start in high $300,000s; two-bedroom units start in the high $400,000s.For more information:symphonyhonolulu.com

About Our Writer

Rachel Ross Bradley is a Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Hawai‘i Realty. Raised in Hawai‘i Kai, she previously worked in public relations and marketing where she assisted some of O‘ahu’s biggest community developers, educators and businesses. She loves connecting people and says that real estate is a form of matchmaking. She is mom to three teenagers and an avid runner, and notes that the hour each day of pavement-pounding is the only teen-angst-free peace and quiet she gets all day. rachelr@bhhshawaii.com